Time is looming over us. Our days are numbered. We are getting closer to our dreaded graduation where we must then go out there and face "the real world." People we know are finding jobs, getting married... And we still can't commit to one font.
For those of us in multidisciplinary design programs, which cover a wide, yet broad, array of themes (product design, graphics, materiality, visual art, sculpture, animation, space design, sustainability), it can be daunting to narrow our skills and find our path. On top of figuring out what we want to focus on within design, most of us are still trying to figure out what exactly it means to be a designer. I truly believe that once we find that path, it is important to delve deep and become a pro at it. It is often better to be a master of one than mediocre at some. Designer and strategist, Chris Do mentions on his podcast that when creating a portfolio, you gain more credibility by displaying a small amount of work geared towards a specific area of design (packaging, lettering, web design, etc.) than presenting a wide array work within many fields of design.
As much as I am a creative at heart, I consider myself a methodical thinker. From a young age, I had an obsession with puzzles, which I think is why I chose design as my path. I love putting all the pieces of information together to form the bigger picture. I was also very curious and drove my parents crazy with never ending questions about absolutely everything. As someone with a design and business degree, I see the importance of being a creative person who understands business. When seeking jobs in creative fields, a basic understanding of business terminology can give you a huge competitive edge. In fine arts, basic business language is overlooked and in business school, creativity is flushed with standardized testing and rigorous memorization. I think that when the right-brain and the left-brain fields interrelate - when design and strategy clearly communicate - we can begin to see empathic problem-solving.
According to The American Institute of Graphic Arts, "the traditional role of design has been to improve the visual appearance and function of messages and information."
If we want to be a part of improving "the visual appearance and function of [the] messages and information" around us, we need to learn to see things from new perspectives with an insane amount of empathy. We cannot build sound creative solutions with "wouldn't it be cool if..." propositions. We need to be child-like curious again. We need to communicate transparently and listen more closely. We need to ask why again and again until we feel we have dug deep enough. By applying this sort of empathy to design, we can create more meaningful work by better understanding who we are designing for and why we are doing it.
The aim of this blog is to give students in creative fields the business development tools needed in order to avoid post-graduation stress and thrive in the professional careers. Some questions I plan on addressing;
How do I go about starting a small creative business and establishing my client base and company culture?What are some basic business terms that can give me a competitive edge?Important hard and soft job skills for creative fieldsWhat tools are at my disposal to continually improve my creative and business skills?How do I justify my charging cost to clients with value?What are the operation tasks involved in running a creative studio where everyone's best skills are highlighted?How do I assemble a professional looking portfolio, resume, and cover letter to get hired?Is sending a bombardment of applications the best way to find a post-graduation job?
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